The Brattleboro Community Justice Center is committed to helping improve the reentry process of serious offenders for those that are returning to our community after serving a minimal of six months incarcerated; for the community that will ultimately receive them and for the victims that have been directly impacted by them. In partnership with the Town of Brattleboro, the Department of Corrections and area service providers we have developed the Brattleboro Restorative Reentry Program in an effort to improve the process and reduce the know barriers to successful reentry.

The Brattleboro Restorative Reentry Program (BRRP) has as its highest goal the successful reintegration of offenders into our community utilizing restorative processes. By its very nature, restorative justice is inclusive, transparent and places a high priority on repairing the harm done to victims and the community. To that end, the BRRP will ask offenders to enter into a social contract with the community requiring offenders to make amends and repair the harm (to the greatest extent possible) to victims and the community and to commit to letting go of old patterns of criminal behavior. Specific operational components of the program include the following:

• An integrated relationship between the community and the Department of Corrections
  
• An ongoing invitation to victims to participate in information sharing and/or facilitated conversations pertaining to their needs
  
• A Circle of Support and Accountability (COSA) made up of community volunteers that maintain regular and frequent contact with offenders, pre and post release, and has the following responsibilities:
  
  • Provide ongoing support to offenders helping them achieve the goals they have set for themselves and their successful reentry
    back into the community
  • Serve as the voice of the community in the development and execution of the reentry plan
  • Help offenders reach an understanding of the harm that has been done, manage the requirement that the offender create a plan for making amends, and oversee the completion of this plan
• Case coordinators that provide support for the COSA and help ensure the establishment of linkages to employment, housing, and entitlement programs for the offender.
  
• Provision of resources for offender needs such as housing, transportation, employment and mental health services.

If….
You know of someone returning from prison to our community that has committed a felony and served a minimum of six months
OR
You are a victim or impacted party and have an interest in the offender’s reentry plan
OR
You are a community member interested in participating on the reentry panel or the Circles of Support

Contact the Brattleboro Community Justice Center and ask for the Restorative Reentry Program Coordinator. We will be gals to assist you.